- July 12, 2025
Rhonda Richardson has expanded Sunshine Psychiatric Care from one room to a full suite, at City Marketplace. Photo by Brian McMillan
Rhonda Richardson, owner of Sunshine Psychiatric Care, in Palm Coast, demonstrates her mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Photo by Brian McMillan
Rhonda Richardson, owner of Sunshine Psychiatric Care, in Palm Coast. Photo by Brian McMillan
Rhonda Richardson had no intention of starting her own business when she moved to Palm Coast in August 2022. A licensed psychiatric nurse practitioner, at first she continued working for a company based in South Florida, seeing patients remotely in Palm Coast. But when she started seeing local patients, she learned there was a great need for more mental health care providers.
“When I first came here, people were saying, ‘I’m so happy I found you. I’ve been driving all the way to Port Orange,’” Richardson recalled.
She had a growing family, and she had no prior experience as a business owner, but she decided to launch Sunshine Psychiatric Care, in April 2023.
“That was a leap of faith,” she said. She rented out a small office on the third floor, next to Flagler Cares, in City Marketplace. “I bet on myself, and things have just been going great for my business.”
According to the Florida Department of Health, Flagler is underserved in behavioral and mental health care providers, with about 128 professionals per 100,000 people, compared with 142 as a state average.
'I SHARE HER STORY'
Seven months later, in November 2023, Richardson’s older sister died of a drug overdose, in South Florida. Her sister had struggled with mental health for many years.
“I share her story any time I can,” said Richardson, who often played a “mother hen” role to her siblings when they were children. Now, when her own patients flirt with opioid addiction, Richardson warns them about illicit drug use.
“You always think it can’t happen, but it can,” Richardson said. “It happened to my family. There’s no safe experimenting with drugs.”
BUILDING A RAPPORT
So far, Richardson’s decision to start her own business has been a success. As of Monday, June 9, she expanded. Sunshine Psychiatric Care has moved to Suite D102 in City Marketplace, on the first floor. That means she now has her own suite, with more options for patients.
“I know I’m making a positive impact in the community, because patents are telling me that they’re happy I’m here, that I actually listen,” she said. While some mental health care providers see 25 patients per day, to help with medication management, she limits her load to 12 per day so that she can spend more time with each patient.
“They tell me, ‘Thank you for listening.’ That feels really good,” Richardson said. “I build a rapport with them, laugh and cry with them.”
NONMEDICATION OPTIONS
But managing medication is not her only goal. She has invested in three nonmedication options that are now available in her new suite, thanks to the extra space:
SHE LISTENS 'PROFOUNDLY'
Amanda Redwine, owner of Congruence Counseling, refers clients to Richardson and is excited about the expanded nonmedication options she provides. The two of them collaborate for the best care on shared clients, even when it means connecting with clients before their next scheduled appointments.
“She is a provider that I really like working with,” Redwine said. “She is concerned about her patients’ wellbeing and listens to them profoundly.”
Richardson is happy with her own business progress, but also with progress made in society related to mental health.
“It’s becoming less taboo, which is awesome,” she said. “People are more likely to seek care.”
